PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Avilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Xavier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Avilov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Avilov
vs
Xavier

188 cm
18
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
18
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladimir Avilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of London, Michael Xavier!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avilov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Xavier on the side of the head.
Avilov lands with a right hand.
Avilov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Michael Xavier has been cut.
Avilov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Xavier counters with a takedown into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Avilov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Xavier.
Xavier throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Avilov works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Xavier missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Avilov gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Xavier throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Xavier looks winded!
Avilov controlling Xavier's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xavier trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Xavier trying to control the position from guard on top but Avilov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Avilov seems keen to control Xavier's posture.
Xavier trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Avilov is trying to keep Xavier in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Vladimir Avilov.
Xavier fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avilov cracks a nice hook into Xavier's ribs.
Xavier displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Avilov throws out the jab.
Avilov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vladimir Avilov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Avilov scores with a takedown into Xavier's guard.
Xavier has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Avilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Avilov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Xavier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Avilov.
Avilov throwing strikes from guard but Xavier blocks nicely.
Avilov is looking to work some ground and pound but Xavier has wrist control.
Avilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Avilov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Avilov stays in close to Xavier's body and controls the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Avilov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Avilov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Xavier is keeping the position for now.
Avilov trying to control but Xavier is working from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Avilov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Avilov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Avilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Xavier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Avilov throws a big right hand that misses.
Xavier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Avilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Avilov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Avilov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Avilov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Xavier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Xavier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Avilov.
Avilov trying to control but Xavier is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Avilov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Avilov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Avilov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Xavier's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Xavier takes one on the button.
Avilov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Avilov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Avilov wants it to stay on the feet.
Xavier on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Xavier takes one to the side of the head.

Avilov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Avilov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Xavier to see if he's OK.
Xavier defending against the ground and pound.
Avilov wants to control but Xavier is keeping him busy.
Avilov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avilov working away.
Avilov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Xavier is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avilov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Avilov scoring with punches from side control.
Avilov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Xavier keeps working.
Xavier parries the strikes from Avilov easily there. Avilov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Xavier to escape.
Avilov with the ground and pound but Xavier regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Xavier regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Avilov.
Xavier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Avilov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avilov postures up in Xavier's guard and throws a big left but Xavier blocks it.
Avilov wants to control from the top but Xavier keeps moving.
Avilov preventing the sweep.
Avilov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Avilov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Avilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Avilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Avilov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Xavier working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Avilov.
Avilov throws a big right hand that misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Avilov distracts Xavier with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xavier working a defensive guard here.
Avilov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Avilov works over Xavier with some ground and pound from guard.
Avilov preventing the sweep.
Vladimir Avilov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Avilov works over Xavier with some ground and pound from guard.
Avilov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Xavier keeping moving, preventing Avilov from controlling successfully.
Xavier keeping full guard, as Avilov tries to pass.
Avilov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've been informed that Xavier has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avilov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Avilov landing with the ground and pound.
Avilov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Xavier has a closed guard, preventing Avilov from standing up.
Xavier keeping full guard, as Avilov tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Avilov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Xavier looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Avilov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Xavier's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Xavier ducks right into an uppercut from Avilov.
Xavier walks into a jab.

Avilov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Avilov working away.
Avilov grinds an elbow into Xavier's temple.
Avilov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Avilov cracks Xavier with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Avilov working the head with strikes.
Avilov lands a few punches from side control.
Avilov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Avilov working the body and head with strikes.
Xavier is working to avoid the ground and pound but Avilov connects with a decent elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avilov working the ground and pound.
Xavier is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Xavier taking punishment in the form of punches.
Avilov working the ground and pound.
Xavier is looking for a sweep.
Xavier is not content to let Avilov control the position.
Avilov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Avilov just content to control the position.

Avilov decides to stand back up. Avilov steps back and let's Xavier get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Avilov closes the distance and clinches up with Xavier, looking for a takedown. Avilov pushes Xavier against the cage but Xavier circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Xavier is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Avilov.

Avilov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Avilov is putting a hurting on Xavier here, landing some big shots from side control.
Xavier wants to control but Avilov postures up.
Avilov is working Xavier over with some ground and pound from side control.
Xavier takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Xavier keeping his opponent close.
Avilov trying to control the position but Xavier is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avilov scoring with punches from side control.
Xavier sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Xavier is refusing to be controlled, as Avilov sits in half guard.
Avilov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Avilov in particular looking to stall.
Avilov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Xavier defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Avilov misses with a head shot. Xavier uses the momentum to regain guard.
Xavier has momentary wrist control but Avilov slips an elbow through the middle.
Avilov looking to sit in guard and control but Xavier gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Avilov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Xavier is one step ahead there.
Vladimir Avilov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Xavier with a nice head shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Avilov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Avilov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Avilov!